This morning, Ubisoft and MASSIVE Entertainment shared with the world their vision for the Season Pass and Year One content cycle for their upcoming third person online open world RPG shooter, Tom Clancys The Division, and blew everyones minds. It seemed that the team had ticked off a checklist with their trailer reveal of seemingly everything that players and fans had been asking for, for months on end on social media channels including Reddit and the official forums. However, even with information overload people were still hungry for more information on just what the content of the Year One content cycle and Season Pass would contain enter GameSpot as the namely hero to save the day and offer more insight.
In a recent Q&A email interview with GameSpot, Magnus Jansen, Creative Director at Ubisoft MASSIVE, has answered several hot topic questions in relation to the Year One content cycle as well as the Season Pass for the title. The questions ranged anywhere from what exactly are Incursions as well as their stance on microtransactions.
Diving right in, GameSpot seemingly fishing for a DLC or microtransactions stance or hick up, asks whether or not weapons and gear would be offered as DLC, or downloadable content, but was shot down by Magnus in terms of direct weapon or gear purchasing microtransations but more in correlation to the major expansions that will be offered as supporting gear and weapons as part of a bigger picture.
EXCITING NEW CHALLENGES GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH EXCITING NEW TOOLS TO TACKLE THOSE CHALLENGES. SO, YES, THERE WILL BE NEW WEAPONS AND GEAR.
Another large topic of discussion currently on social media is exactly where the pay wall of the Season Pass and free updates separate each other. Ubisoft and MASSIVE have taken great care however to cater both to those who wish to buy the Season Pass as well as those who may be unable to buy it, or skeptical as to whether or not it would be worth it to them. To this, GameSpot asks what players can expect from the free updates provided by MASSIVE.
IN THE SPRING WELL HAVE SEVERAL EXCITING NEW FEATURES, ACTIVITIES, AND CONTENT LINED UP FOR EVERYONE. THE DIVISION IS A BIG GAME WITH LOTS OF THINGS TO DO
WE ARE CONSTANTLY LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WILL BE ADDING MOST WANTED FEATURES, SUCH AS LOOT TRADING.
One of the biggest topics overall however post-Season Pass reveal, which is obviously the elephant in the room, is the reveal of Incursions. Alot of community members, both on the official forums as well as other channels like Reddit, have used the term Incursion and Raid synonymously, however it seems as though Incursions have alot more depth than a typical Raid style content like World of Warcraft or Destiny. With that in mind, GameSpot asks what exactly is an Incursion and if there are more in development.
AN INCURSION IS A PVE END-GAME ACTIVITY FOR A GROUP OF FOUR PLAYERS AT MAX LEVEL. INCURSIONS REQUIRE PREPARATION AND COORDINATION AS THEY ARE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. THE FIRST INCURSION WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FIRST FREE UPDATE. MORE INCURSIONS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT IS TOO SOON TO TALK ABOUT THESE WITHOUT SPOILING THEM
With all the skepticism behind microtransactions and DLC, as somewhat of a negative omen in the gaming industry, with how they have become the norm in most cases with mega franchises like Call of Duty and Battlefield, it struck many individuals off guard when Ubisoft initially announced that there would be no microtransactions or pay-to-win currency options within The Division. Ubisoft and MASSIVE stand firm however, and they have decided to put their players first and forgo microtransactions or pay-to-win entirely. GameSpot however still fishes for comment by asking straight forward if the game will have microtransactions.
THERE IS NO PAID CURRENCY IN THE GAME, NOR IS THERE ANY WAY TO PURCHASE IN-GAME ITEMS SUCH AS WEAPONS, ARMOR, OR CONSUMABLES THAT AFFECT A PLAYERS STATS OR PERFORMANCE. THE DIVISION IS NOT A GAME WHERE PLAYERS CAN PAY TO WIN.
It is both extremely refreshing and rewarding for players, both adopters of the Season Pass as well as regular players, that Ubisoft and MASSIVE Entertainment as a whole have decided to put their players first where post launch is concerned. With so much content available to everyone and a Year One road map already posted for day one through to next year it should be one hell of an experience once the whole picture of Year One is painted.
